Wisdom comes from the right connection
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..."
Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
I've been thinking about this phrase for the last couple days, dissecting the components.
The "fear of the Lord"...
In what I've experienced as the "fear of the Lord," this word "fear," used in the Bible alongside with describing God, is such a loaded word...
It can't really be summed up in one adjective but many and also cannot be held in one setting but also many.
The "fear of the Lord" is a very sweet, powerful, awe-struck state. In it there are emotions and reactions at interplay, almost like a great symphony reaching the climax of a grand masterpiece, but this analogy is so small in comparison. When you find yourself in the center of this state, you are completely blown away, feel extremely small and amazed by the majestic presence and beauty of God. There is NO mistake to who God is and who you are.
Elements of true humility comes to play... there is nothing you can stand on--not your merits, nor your accolades, neither your gifts or talents because you know from WHOM they came from and WHO is in control! Also, the huge weight of His interaction with you is heavy because it is undeniably crazy to know the interaction & relationship that He bestows is almost unbearable. Grace is not a light nor cheap interaction, it is HEAVY and COSTLY for the one giving it and the one receiving unmistakenly recognizes it! It is beautiful in God's nature and gesture, but ugly in what it did to Jesus on the cross. It is rather quite shocking. God's majesty alone is heavy enough but to couple it with His grace and "BOOM!," what else can you do but be speechless, on the floor and accepting to whatever action or word comes from God?
Now if that doesn't start you on the road to wisdom, I don't know what will!
The "Beginning of Wisdom"
Where does the source of real wisdom come from?
For those who are true seekers of wisdom know that they cannot get very far or achieve great depths of wisdom from riding on a high horse.
How the Lord hates pride, and reasonably so, since He holds all truth and wisdom. It's not like He can't see through charades and cheaply dressed facades of mimicking "wisdom" for the motives of impressing oneself or others. He is not a fair-weathered friend, nor one to be fooled by a turning heart.
Psalm 138:6
Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.
Proverbs 18:12
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
1 Corinthians 1:19
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
1 Corinthians 1:25
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
Colossians 2:23
Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Pride is something that can slow down or completely stop your strides with God. It is a relationship/communication killer for your relationship with God. Seriously. God only has room for one master in the relationship, but also Thank God that He is patient for us to turn to Him again when we slip and fall. My advice...repent quickly and be over with it. Pride doesn't need a slow transition out... not 10-step program...It needs to be severed cold-turkey. Also, God is not waiting for long elaborate tales of woes in repentance. He wants true, quick and committed decisions of the heart and He rewards each time we decide to admit and drop the pride as yesterday's trash (no dumpster diving.) He says that we remembers no more of past transgressions and buries them in the depth of the sea. So don't bring back trash to your relationship when you're looking ahead to an amazing future.
Isaiah 43:25
I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
Jeremiah 31:34
No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
Hebrews 8:12
For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
Hebrews 10:17
Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.
With wisdom, like all things God gives/creates, it is meant to be grown, multiplied, shared, etc. To those whom have been deemed "wise" shared it, not for their own sakes, but the very nature of wisdom seeks to help others. It is and was never meant to be a "selfish" gift, as all of God's other gifts.
1 Kings 3:28 (Solomon)
When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.
1 Kings 4:34 (Solomon)
Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.
Ezra 7:25 (Ezra)
And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them.
Daniel 2:23, 30, 47
"...I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers:
You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king...
As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind...
The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”
Acts 7:10 (Joseph)
and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt; so he made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. Now wisdom isn't something God is intentionally trying to hide. He wants to give it freely. The question is, is there anything in your heart or motive that is trying to gain something other than what God's gift of wisdom? When you seek God's wisdom, you are seeking him under a connection, not just a freebie. He may give you wisdom but you may discard it for the hidden desires you are trying to excavate out of your life rather than His promise of life-giving wisdom.
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
God has no problem distributing wisdom, but also an important reminder in our walk in faith with Jesus is that relationship is more important that rules. In gifts, in wisdom, in love, they are meant to be kept always with the greatest commandment. Relationship with God and relationship to others. It is great to celebration of God's works in and through you, but just continue to keep a check-up on your heart and motives. Pull out any weeds of comparison, anxiousness, stress and judgement. They are good indicators if your heart is being misaligned in your search for wisdom.
Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
I've been thinking about this phrase for the last couple days, dissecting the components.
The "fear of the Lord"...
In what I've experienced as the "fear of the Lord," this word "fear," used in the Bible alongside with describing God, is such a loaded word...
It can't really be summed up in one adjective but many and also cannot be held in one setting but also many.
The "fear of the Lord" is a very sweet, powerful, awe-struck state. In it there are emotions and reactions at interplay, almost like a great symphony reaching the climax of a grand masterpiece, but this analogy is so small in comparison. When you find yourself in the center of this state, you are completely blown away, feel extremely small and amazed by the majestic presence and beauty of God. There is NO mistake to who God is and who you are.
Elements of true humility comes to play... there is nothing you can stand on--not your merits, nor your accolades, neither your gifts or talents because you know from WHOM they came from and WHO is in control! Also, the huge weight of His interaction with you is heavy because it is undeniably crazy to know the interaction & relationship that He bestows is almost unbearable. Grace is not a light nor cheap interaction, it is HEAVY and COSTLY for the one giving it and the one receiving unmistakenly recognizes it! It is beautiful in God's nature and gesture, but ugly in what it did to Jesus on the cross. It is rather quite shocking. God's majesty alone is heavy enough but to couple it with His grace and "BOOM!," what else can you do but be speechless, on the floor and accepting to whatever action or word comes from God?
Now if that doesn't start you on the road to wisdom, I don't know what will!
The "Beginning of Wisdom"
Where does the source of real wisdom come from?
For those who are true seekers of wisdom know that they cannot get very far or achieve great depths of wisdom from riding on a high horse.
How the Lord hates pride, and reasonably so, since He holds all truth and wisdom. It's not like He can't see through charades and cheaply dressed facades of mimicking "wisdom" for the motives of impressing oneself or others. He is not a fair-weathered friend, nor one to be fooled by a turning heart.
Psalm 138:6
Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.
Proverbs 18:12
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
1 Corinthians 1:19
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
1 Corinthians 1:25
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
Colossians 2:23
Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Pride is something that can slow down or completely stop your strides with God. It is a relationship/communication killer for your relationship with God. Seriously. God only has room for one master in the relationship, but also Thank God that He is patient for us to turn to Him again when we slip and fall. My advice...repent quickly and be over with it. Pride doesn't need a slow transition out... not 10-step program...It needs to be severed cold-turkey. Also, God is not waiting for long elaborate tales of woes in repentance. He wants true, quick and committed decisions of the heart and He rewards each time we decide to admit and drop the pride as yesterday's trash (no dumpster diving.) He says that we remembers no more of past transgressions and buries them in the depth of the sea. So don't bring back trash to your relationship when you're looking ahead to an amazing future.
Isaiah 43:25
I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
Jeremiah 31:34
No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the LORD. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
Hebrews 8:12
For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
Hebrews 10:17
Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.
With wisdom, like all things God gives/creates, it is meant to be grown, multiplied, shared, etc. To those whom have been deemed "wise" shared it, not for their own sakes, but the very nature of wisdom seeks to help others. It is and was never meant to be a "selfish" gift, as all of God's other gifts.
1 Kings 3:28 (Solomon)
When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.
1 Kings 4:34 (Solomon)
Men of all nations came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.
Ezra 7:25 (Ezra)
And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them.
Daniel 2:23, 30, 47
"...I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers:
You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king...
As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind...
The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”
Acts 7:10 (Joseph)
and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt; so he made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. Now wisdom isn't something God is intentionally trying to hide. He wants to give it freely. The question is, is there anything in your heart or motive that is trying to gain something other than what God's gift of wisdom? When you seek God's wisdom, you are seeking him under a connection, not just a freebie. He may give you wisdom but you may discard it for the hidden desires you are trying to excavate out of your life rather than His promise of life-giving wisdom.
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
God has no problem distributing wisdom, but also an important reminder in our walk in faith with Jesus is that relationship is more important that rules. In gifts, in wisdom, in love, they are meant to be kept always with the greatest commandment. Relationship with God and relationship to others. It is great to celebration of God's works in and through you, but just continue to keep a check-up on your heart and motives. Pull out any weeds of comparison, anxiousness, stress and judgement. They are good indicators if your heart is being misaligned in your search for wisdom.
Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
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